How Do I Know if I’m a Candidate for LASIK?

There’s only one way to find out if you’re a suitable candidate for LASIK corrective eye surgery: visit a LASIK eye surgeon for a comprehensive evaluation! During this evaluation, many tests will be performed by Dr. Mandel to determine your candidacy for LASIK. The following is a list of those tests:
1. Visual Acuity: With this test, we measure how well you can see on the eye chart, both without glasses and with them.

2. Glasses Prescription: We measure the prescription in your current glasses using a specialized instrument known as a lensometer, or we record your current contact lens prescription for history purposes. We then compare this reading to our measurements. This tells us whether your prescription is stable.

3. Retinoscopy: This is a test which is used to give us a completely objective starting point for your prescription, and it’s one of many ways we measure the prescription prior to LASIK eye surgery. In this test, a streak of light from a specialized instrument known as a retinoscope is shined into the eye. This light travels through the components of the eye, (the cornea, the lens, etc…) bounces off of the retina and then returns to the retinoscope. The behavior of that light as it’s refracted, or bent, by the different structures in the eye is then analyzed and corrected by our technician by introducing different lenses in front of the eye.

4. Manual Refraction: Once the starting point is determined using retinoscopy, the prescription is then refined with the patient’s answers. This test is called the ‘better one or two’ test by our patients, as it’s the subjective portion of the prescription test. This is the test where we introduce several different lenses which correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, until we find the best option which yields the most optimal vision possible for each patient.

5. Wavescan: This technology is yet another tool we use to measure your prescription. The wavescan technology also creates a unique fingerprint of your eye which Dr. Mandel uses to customize your LASIK eye surgery. Click here to learn more about Wavescan technology.

6. Atlas Topography: The topography machine is used to measure the curvature of your cornea, which is represented by color topographical maps. This also quantifies your astigmatism which, if normal, can be corrected with LASIK. Click here to learn more about Atlas Topography.

7. Pentacam Tomography: This is one of the latest LASIK technologies and is primarily used to measure the thickness of the cornea. Click here to learn more about corneal thickness and LASIK.

8. Intraocular Pressure Reading (IOP): This is one of several screening tests available for glaucoma. The eye is anesthetized and then a special instrument known as a tonometer prism is placed on the eye. This prism measures how much pressure it takes to flatten the central area of your cornea. This reading is your intraocular pressure reading. If your pressure is not in the normal range, further testing such as a visual field or a GDX exam may be recommended prior to LASIK laser vision correction.

9. Slit-lamp examination: The slit-lamp is a special microscope which cross-sections the eye. This enables your eye doctor to look at all of the different layers of the eye to make sure they are healthy. This test is a part of the medical eye exam which is also done during routine eye exams. Some of the many parts of the eye that can be examined using the slit-lamp microscope are the:

10. Pupillary Reaction: Your pupils will be examined with a bright light to make sure they constrict and dilate properly. Both the direct reaction and indirect reaction, known as the consensual reaction, will be evaluated. Many things can cause your pupils to not react normally, including head injury and stroke.

11. Dilation with both mydriatic and cycloplegic drops: The mydriatic drops are the same short-acting drops that are used during a routine eye exam. The cycloplegic drops last longer but help relax your eye muscles so that you can’t accommodate. This way, we can obtain a more accurate measurement of your prescription. Click here to learn more about why Dr. Mandel uses stronger dilating drops for the LASIK evaluation, whereas some LASIK centers do not.

12. Dilated Fundus Exam: This is also a part of the medical portion of the exam which is done during routine eye exams. Once the pupil is fully dilated, Dr. Mandel will perform two different tests to examine the back portion of your eye to make sure it’s healthy. In the first test, he will use a special, 90 diopter lens with the slit-lamp microscope and then he will use another special 20 diopter lens, along with an instrument known as an indirect ophthalmoscope, to view the back of the eye. Some of the structures that are examined during these exams are the:

• Retina
• Vitreous
• Macula
• Optic Nerve
• Blood Vessels

13. Prescription measurement after dilation: This is the final measurement we do for your prescription. Once your eyes are fully dilated and your accommodation is relaxed, your prescription is measured again. This is the most accurate representation of your prescription and it’s the extra step we take to ensure you are not over-corrected.

So, don’t be fooled by those online LASIK quizzes. Seeing a LASIK specialist is the ONLY way to find out if LASIK is right for you. Make an appointment for a FREE LASIK evaluation with corneal specialist and LASIK surgeon, Dr. Eric Mandel today. Click here to book online or call us at 888-866-3681.